Radio România Internațional

Tag: imports

  • European funds for Ukrainian grain exports

    European funds for Ukrainian grain exports

    Ukraine is dependent on the
    European transport corridors after its exports and imports by sea have been
    suspended by the blockade imposed by Russia. According to present data, over
    May 2022 and August 2023, these solidarity corridors have allowed Ukraine to
    export over 53 million tons of farm products, including roughly 48 million tons
    of cereals and other similar products. These exports are estimated to have brought
    Ukraine 38 billion euros in income. At the same time, Ukraine imported via the
    solidarity corridors goods with a total value of roughly 70 billion euro. ‘This
    proves that our economic partnership leads to an increase in exports and
    imports’, the European Commissioner for Transport, Romanian Adina Valean, said
    during a meeting she had with the Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure,
    Oleksandr Kubrakov.

    The European
    Commissioner has also announced the launch by the European Commission of a new
    fund scheme for the infrastructure used in the Ukrainian exports through the
    member states. We want to ensure the future integration of the Ukrainian
    railway system with the EU transport system through the introduction of the
    European standard gauge with a view to having a railway connection along
    Ukraine from the city of Lviv to Iasi, in eastern Romania, and farther to Chisinau,
    in the Republic of Moldova. The infrastructure resulted and that we have
    streamlined in the past 16 months is here to stay and represents a ‘de facto’
    integration from the viewpoint of infrastructure of Ukraine in the EU single
    market, the EU commissioner went on to say.


    60% of the goods shipped through
    the solidarity corridors is transiting Romania. We are speaking here about
    roads as well as the Danube and the Black Sea port of Constanta – the most
    important points in the Ukrainian exports.


    Under these circumstances,
    Romania could obtain a big part of the funding scheme if it came with projects
    until the deadline in January, when the scheme is closed. Down the Danube
    along its border with Ukraine and then the port of Constanta are two points,
    which could attract consistent European funding, Adina Vălean added. On one
    had we are talking about measures of streamlining the operations in the port of
    Constanta, on the other hand we are talking about increasing the capabilities
    of transferring the goods from one ship to the other. We are having talks about
    the purchase of specific equipment to be shipped to the port of Constanta the
    Commissioner has explained. The novelty of the aforementioned 7 billion euro
    funding scheme resides in the permission granted to the Republic of Moldova and
    Ukraine to apply with projects in conditions similar to those of the member
    states, without having to have a community partner.


    (bill)

  • Romanian farmers give up protests

    Romanian farmers give up protests

    The European Commission’s decision not to extend the order stopping the import of cheap Ukrainian grain has reignited the older dispute on this topic and led to new protests from farmers in the affected Central and East European states. The import ban was imposed after the sea routes Ukraine had used to export its products could no longer be used, and large quantities of grain reached Central Europe, affecting the business of local farmers. After the ban approved by the European Commission expired last Friday, the governments of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced that they would unilaterally continue to ban Ukrainian grain imports. They claim that they are doing it to protect their economies and farmers from the inflow of Ukrainian products. In response, Ukraine filed lawsuits at the World Trade Organization, considering that such restrictions represent a violation of the international obligations of Ukraine’s neighbors.



    Romania did not adopt the radical solution of the three states. Bucharest has announced that grain from Ukraine will continue to transit Romania, provided that Kyiv presents, within 30 days, a plan for its exports. During these 30 days, no Ukrainian grain will be imported, the Romanian Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, told local farmers. Under the future plan, only those in the business of animal husbandry and processing units will have the right to buy grain, and only after they prove they need grain or have insufficient stocks. In addition, the grain will be checked by the Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority before leaving Ukraine. After negotiations with the Government, Romanian farmers gave up protests for the time being.



    Daniel Radu, vice-president of the Forta Fermierilor Association: We are only talking about imports, as transit will continue. Ukrainian trucks will further cross Romanias territory, and not only trucks, but also barges, and other freigh transport means, but nothing will remain on Romania’s territory. The grain will be taken directly to the port, where it will be loaded on ships to their final destination. The plan proposed by the Agriculture Ministry must enter into force and start taking effect. A licensing system will not be easy to implement, nor to get, so it will take time. So we feel protected, as farmers, from this risk of the domestic market being flooded with Ukrainian grain. Farmers in Bulgaria protested, on Monday, throughout the country, to demand a ban on the import of oil, sunflower, corn, wheat and rapeseed from Ukraine. The protests also affected traffic at the northern border with Romania. (EE)


  • September 19, 2023

    September 19, 2023

    UN The president of Romania
    Klaus Iohannis takes part in the UN General Assembly in New York, and is
    to attend the summit on Sustainable Development Goals. In his address, Mr.
    Iohannis will reiterate Romania’s firm support for efficient multilateralism,
    compliance with international law and a rule-based international
    order. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, the General Assembly
    session is affected by global divisions, deepened by recurrent crises and in
    particular by Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr
    Zelenskyy will attend the meeting for the first time since the war in his
    country started, and is to address today leaders from around the world present
    in New York. The US president Joe Biden will also give his traditional speech
    before the Assembly and will plead for stronger action to fight global warming,
    and for continuing support to Ukraine for as long as necessary.


    TAXES The
    Romanian finance ministry has released for public review a draft law on new tax
    and budget related measures, after nearly 2 months of negotiations between the
    2 members of the ruling coalition, the Social Democrats and the National
    Liberals. Under the bill, micro-enterprises will have to pay a 1% tax on
    revenues under EUR 60,000, and 3% if their turnover is above this threshold. The
    same tax will be levied on software development companies, judicial activities
    or healthcare assistance firms. The employees in constructions and in the food
    industry will have to pay healthcare insurance contributions, while IT staff
    will pay a tax on revenues for all amounts over EUR 2,000. A minimum tax on
    revenues is also introduced for large companies, while banks will have to pay
    an additional 1% tax. The government will take responsibility for this set of
    measures by the end of this month, so that the bill may take effect on October
    1. According to the authorities, the new provisions will help narrow the budget
    deficit and avoid losing billions of Euros in EU funding.


    CANNABIS The Senate of Romania Tuesday
    voted against a bill to decriminalise possession of up to 3 grams of cannabis
    for personal use, and to replace criminal penalties with fines ranging from EUR
    200 to 600. The bill was tabled by a group of non-affiliated MPs, and is next
    to be voted on in the Chamber of Deputies.


    GRAINS Bulgarian
    farmers carry on protests against resuming the imports of Ukrainian grains,
    accepted by the Bulgarian government after the European Commission decided not
    to extend the ban on such imports. In turn, Bucharest continues to allow the
    transit of Ukrainian grains, but has introduced one-month import restrictions
    until Kyiv comes up with a plan for its exports. The measure persuaded Romanian
    farmers to give up their protests. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary unilaterally
    banned imports of Ukrainian grain, prompting Kyiv to complain against them at
    the World Trade Organisation. We have more on this after the news.


    AID
    Romania has sent a second installment of aid to flood-devastated Libya. Two C-130
    airctaft of the Romanian Air Forces have 6 trips planned to deliver 55 tonnes of
    food products and other emergency aid. Libya will also receive over EUR 5 mln
    for shelters, food, water, and medicines. The death toll so far is over 11,000,
    while another 10,000 people are still missing.


    FESTIVAL
    The George Enescu International Music Festival in Bucharest has reached its
    final week. Until Sunday, the public are invited to attend free of charge
    classical music concerts held in the Festival Square near the Romanian
    Athenaeum, where celebrated orchestras from Romania and the Republic of Moldova
    will accompany famous soloists and instrumentalists. The Radio Romania Big Band
    conducted by Simona Strungaru, will give a concert on Friday. On Sunday, the last
    performance in the Festival will be given by the Camerata Regală orchestra with
    the percussionist Zoli Toth. (AMP)

  • September 17, 2023

    September 17, 2023

    FARMERS An alliance of Romanian farmers, unhappy
    with the European Commission’s decision not to extend the ban on grain imports
    from Ukraine, asks the Romanian government to suspend imports of several
    Ukrainian agrifood products. The government, which has already promised
    subsidies for the Diesel fuel used in farming works, announced that before
    taking further measures it was waiting for Kyiv to make public on Monday a plan
    regarding efficient export control to prevent the disruption of the Romanian
    grain market. Depending on that plan, Bucharest will take adequate steps to
    support Romanian farmers. The EC decided
    not to extend its ban on Ukrainian grain imports, in exchange for certain
    commitments from Kyiv. Poland, Slovakia and
    Hungary have introduced unilateral restrictions, while Bulgaria announced it
    did not want the embargo on Ukrainian grain imports extended.


    PENSIONS A new
    version of the special pension law, comprising the amendments requested by the
    Constitutional Court, will be endorsed by the end of September, said the
    interim Chamber of Deputies speaker, Alfred Simonis. He added the law covers
    all categories of special pensions, but because the special benefits paid to
    magistrates and other categories cannot be scrapped, as it happened in the case
    of MPs, taxation will be introduced, which the Court has accepted. Also,
    Simonis said, ceilings must be introduced for each particular profession, so as
    to eliminate special pensions of EUR 8,000 or even EUR 14,000 a month. The
    Constitutional Court last month sent back to Parliament the new draft pension
    law, on grounds that pension benefits currently being paid cannot be readjusted
    to different principles than the ones in the law under which they have been
    granted.


    SCHENGEN Austria’s opposition to Romania’s Schengen
    accession is not targeted against Bucharest, but against this freedom of
    movement system, said the Austrian minister for the EU, Karoline Edtstadler. The
    statement comes after Bucharest warned it would sue Vienna over its veto to
    Romania’s accession. Karoline Edtstadler told the media she understood the
    position of Romanian authorities, but added Austria cannot close its eyes to an
    already flawed system. She explained the EU should ensure efficient protection of its external
    borders before envisioning a Europe without internal
    borders. In
    an interview to Austrian mass media, Romania’s PM
    Marcel Ciolacu said that in case of further opposition from Austria, Romania
    will have to take the matter to court and demand compensation for the losses
    incurred because of its failure to join the Schengen area.


    NATO NATO’s secretary general
    Jens Stoltenberg has warned that we must not expect a swift end to the war in
    Ukraine, in an interview published on Sunday, as Kyiv carries on its
    counteroffensive against Russian forces, AFP reports. The war began in February 2022, when
    Russian troops invaded Ukraine. As for Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO, Jens Stoltenberg promised
    that sooner or later, Ukraine will be a NATO member. In July’s NATO summit in
    Vilnius, Alliance leaders agreed that Kyiv may join NATO once
    certain conditions are fulfilled, with the US and Germany emphasising that
    these conditions include reforms to protect democracy and the rule of law. In
    mid-June the Ukrainian army launched a counteroffensive to push out the Russian
    troops from the south and east of the country, but so far only a limited number
    of localities have been freed.


    RUGBY Romania’s national rugby team play their second
    World Cup match in Bordeaux (France) today, against defending champions, South
    Africa. A week ago Romania lost to Ireland 82-8 (33-8). Romania’s
    rugby team is next to play against Scotland on September 30 and against Tonga on
    October 8, in Lille. The 2023 Rugby World Cup
    ends on October 28. The competition has been held every 4 years since 1987, when
    the first edition of the World Cup was hosted by Australia and New Zealand. (AMP)

  • Trade balance deficit on a downward trend

    Trade balance deficit on a downward trend

    Traditionally an importer, post-communist Romanias economy buys more than it sells, and the trade balance deficit is a chronic issue. The first seven months of 2023 promise, however, slight corrections. In this interval, the deficit stood at 15.6 billion Euros, 17% lower than the same period last year, show data published by the National Institute of Statistics. Romanias exports totaled 55 billion Euros, 4.6% higher than in the same period of the previous year. At the same time, between January 1 and July 31, 2023, Romania imported goods worth 70 billion Euros, down by 1.1% as compared to the similar period of 2022. Important shares in the structure of commercial exchanges are held by cars and transport equipment (44.8% for export and 36.3% for import) and by other manufactured products (30.3% for export and 29.2% for import).



    The Romanian economy remains strongly anchored in the trade flows of the European Union. The value of intra-EU27 goods exchanges in the first seven months of 2023 was over 40 billion Euros for exports and 52 billion for imports, accounting for 72.8% of the total exports and 73.6% of the total imports. The value of extra-EU27 exchanges was almost 15 billion Euros for exports and over 18 billion for imports, accounting for 27.2% of the total exports and 26.4% of the total imports. A few days ago, the Fitch rating agency reconfirmed Romanias sovereign rating at BBB minus, with a stable outlook. The decision is supported by capital flows from the European Union, which support investments and the country’s macroeconomic stability, as well as by the positive evolution of the GDP per capita and indicators of governance and human development, which are at higher levels as compared with other countries from the same rating group. According to Fitch, the Romanian economy will register a 2.9% growth this year and 3.2% next year.



    The Finance Minister, Marcel Boloş, wrote on his Facebook page that the Fitch Agencys decision to reconfirm Romanias sovereign rating is a strong signal that the country is on the right track and is regarded with confidence by international investors. Experts argue, however, that Romanias rating could be improved, if the authorities manage to reduce the budget deficit and the public debt in the medium term. The international economic press writes that Romania now wants to raise approximately three billion Euros from the international markets, through the third sale of bonds this year. The Romanian government exceeds its loan target, in the context in which, it will most likely need more funds to finance a larger budget deficit, the foreign experts conclude. (LS)

  • September 2, 2023 UPDATE

    September 2, 2023 UPDATE

    Budget — The European Commission might agree to a higher budget deficit than the one originally assumed by Romania for this year, says the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, after the meeting, in Brussels, on Friday, with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Romania assumed a deficit of 4.4%, but it wants to increase it to over 5%. He said that the fact that Romania was not accepted in the Schengen Area contributed to the increase of the countrys budget deficit by almost 2%. Ciolacu added that the plan to combat evasion, the reform of the administration and the measures to reduce the deficit will be included in a law for which the Romanian Government will take responsibility in Parliament in the autumn parliamentary session, which starts on Monday. He said that the value added tax for goods and services will not exceed 19%, and for foodstuffs and medicines it will be maintained at 9%.



    Summit — The US President Joe Bidens special envoy on climate issues, John Kerry, is coming to Bucharest. The US State Department announces that, on Wednesday, he will participate in the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, a diplomatic format that includes 12 member states of the European Union located between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas. John Kerry will talk about how an accelerated transition to clean energy strengthens energy security and resilience in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as about new nuclear technologies, including Romanias role in the construction of small modular reactors. John Kerry was Secretary of State between 2013 and 2017, during the second term of President Barack Obama.



    Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea qualified, for the first time, in the round of 16 of the US Open tournament, the last Grand Slam competition of the year, on Friday, in New York, after her surprise victory over Kazakhstans Elena Rîbakina, with the score 6 -3, 6-7, 6-4. The Romanian (30 WTA) achieved her best performance at Flushing Meadows. In the round of 16, Sorana Cîrstea will face the Swiss Belinda Bencic. Also in New York, in the womens doubles, the Romanian-Ukrainian pair Gabriela Ruse/Marta Kostiuk qualified for the round of 16, after defeating the Russian-Australian pair Irina Hromaceva/Daria Saville 6-2, 6-2. Ruse and Kostiuk reached the semifinals of the doubles event at the Australian Open this year, stopped in the round of 16 at Roland Garros and in the second round at Wimbledon.



    Statistics – Romania imported in the first half of this year over a third less than in the same period of last year, show data provided by the National Institute of Statistics. Domestic production increased in the first six months of this year by 6%. According to the estimates of the National Strategy and Forecast Commission, natural gas production is estimated to rise at an average annual rate of 3.6% in the period 2023-2026, after a decrease of approximately 1% in 2022. As regards imports of natural gas, for this year a sharp decrease of almost a quarter is forecast, a trend that will be maintained until 2026. According to the National Institute of Statistics the import of natural gas registered a decrease of 16.5% last year.



    Air traffic – Air traffic for passengers in Romania increased in the first half of this year by over 26%, compared to the same period of last year. According to the National Institute of Statistics, from almost 9 million passengers in 2022, 2023 saw more than 11 million passengers. The largest flows were recorded at “Henri Coandă” Airport in Bucharest, “Avram Iancu” in Cluj-Napoca (north-west) and Iasi International Airport (north-east). In international passenger transport, most passengers disembarked in Romania took off from Luton airport in London, Bergamo in Milan and Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv. Most passengers from Romania boarded planes heading for London, Milan and Brussels. The passengers disembarked in Romania mainly came from such countries as Italy, Great Britain, Germany and Spain.



    Covid – The number of people sick with COVID-19 has increased at a “quite alarming” rate, warned the manager of the “Sfânta Parascheva” Infectious Diseases Hospital in Iasi (northeast). He said that this is due to the people’s crowing during the holidays and to the small number of tests for Covid. Wearing a protective mask remains the most effective method of prevention, according to physicians. They also recommend testing at the first signs of illness, avoiding crowded spaces, avoiding contact with infected people, washing hands and vaccination to avoid severe forms of the disease.



    Swimmer – The Romanian librarian Avram Iancu finished, on Friday, his swimming race on the Rhine, through which he wanted to support, in his own way, the importance of Romanias accession to the Schengen Area. A multi-sport athlete, he managed to cover the 1,032 kilometers of the river in 48 days, without a neoprene suit or other aids, making an effort that he described as titanic and unimaginable. In the summer of 2017, Avram Iancu became the first man in the world who managed to cross the Danube River using only the strength of his arms. (LS)

  • July 19, 2023 UPDATE

    July 19, 2023 UPDATE

    WEATHER Extreme temperatures are still forecast in most of Romania,
    particularly in the south and east, where the temperature-humidity index will be above
    the critical 80% ceiling. The highs are expected to range between 25 and 37
    degrees Celsius. Most regions will also be facing atmospheric instability, with
    heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms and wind. Code yellow and code orange alerts are
    in place in the west of the country, where strong wind, thunderstorms, hail and
    heavy rainfalls are expected.


    FIREFIGHTERS On Wednesday Romania sent another 40 firefighters and
    several fire engines to Greece, where the authorities requested international
    assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The decision to send
    additional intervention equipment and personnel was made by the Romanian
    government. Romania has deployed a total of 13 fire engines and 80 fire
    fighters, after the Greek authorities issued a code-red alert for extreme heat
    across the country, with temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius expected to
    contribute to the spreading of wildfires. The Romanian fire fighters are to
    stay in Greece until August 1.

    CLIMATE The UN says humanity must prepare for more intense heat
    waves and recommends that citizens develop their own battle plan to
    face these extreme day and night temperatures. In North America, Asia, North
    Africa and the Mediterranean, temperatures will keep exceeding 40 degrees
    Celsius in the coming days. According to experts, heat-trapping greenhouse gas
    emissions are at the origin of climate change. Italy is subject to new alerts for
    particularly hot weather, while several regions in Spain have been placed under
    code red alerts due to the extreme danger induced by the heat wave.


    GOVERNMENT The new minister for labour and
    social solidarity, Simona Bucura-Oprescu, and the new minister for family,
    youth and equal opportunities, Natalia Intotero, were sworn in on Wednesday in
    a ceremony held at Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest. Oprescu replaces Marius
    Budăi, and Intotero takes over from Gabriela Firea, who resigned following a
    scandal concerning abuse in care homes for the elderly. The appointment decrees
    were signed by president Klaus Iohannis earlier on Wednesday.


    MEETING The PM of Romania Marcel Ciolacu had an informal meeting
    with the PM of Hungary, Viktor Orban, during a private visit by Orban to Romania. According
    to a news release issued by the government, Marcel Ciolacu emphasised that the
    Romanian party is seeking to maintain an open, positive, and constructive
    approach in the relations between the 2 countries. He welcomed Budapest’s
    support for Romania’s Schengen accession efforts, and voiced hopes that Hungary
    would remain an ally in this respect for Romania. The 2 officials also
    exchanged views on the topic of the EU’s current priorities, ahead of Hungary taking
    over the presidency of the EU Council in January 2024.


    GRAIN Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and
    Slovakia would like the ban on Ukrainian grain imports to be extended at least
    until the end of the year, the agriculture ministers of the 5 countries announced
    on Wednesday after a meeting in Warsaw. They signed a
    joint statement on the need to extend the EU preventive measures concerning the
    imports of wheat, maze, rape
    and sunflower seeds from Ukraine. In the same statement, the signatories also
    suggest that the list of products subject to the preventive measures remain
    open. According to a news release issued by the Romanian agriculture ministry,
    the participants sought a joint approach to the problems facing the farmers in
    these countries, which will be presented in the forthcoming AgriFish Council
    meeting. Romania was represented by the agriculture minister Ionut Barbu. Meanwhile, Reuters reports, an official letter from
    the Ukrainian government says Ukraine is currently working on defining a
    temporary maritime transport route via Romanian territorial waters, to continue
    to export grain via Black Sea ports. On Tuesday Russia pulled out of the
    agreement allowing safe passage to Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea. (AMP)

  • Customs duty waiver for Ukraine

    Customs duty waiver for Ukraine


    In order to support Ukraines economy, severely hit by the Russian invasion, the EU trade ministers Thursday approved the Commissions proposal to extend by another year the trade facilities granted for Ukraines exports. All import duties are therefore lifted until June next year.



    By renewing the measure, the EU continues to prove its unwavering political and economic support for Ukraine, Brussels explained, and added that this form of support, concurrently with the military, financial and humanitarian aid, is vital for the countrys long-term recovery. The EC said the further lifting of safeguard measures will help mitigate the difficult situation facing the Ukrainian producers and exporters following the Russian invasion.



    The measures apply to fruits and vegetables subjected to the entry price system, as well as agricultural products and processed products subject to tariff quotas. And because certain effects of this decision have a dramatic impact on several economic sectors in Member States, the package also includes measures to protect these sectors.



    The EU leaders call for solidarity from the European society, and argue that while EU countries are paying to help war-hit Kyiv in money, Ukrainians are paying for this conflict caused by Moscow both financially, and in human lives.



    The suspension of import duties triggered complaints from farmer associations in 5 EU member states, including Romania, on grounds of the unfair competition with the exports of grains from these countries, which are subject to duties and restrictions. The discontent culminated with the decision made by Poland and Hungary last month to ban certain grain imports from Ukraine.



    Moreover, early this week, several hundred farmers from EU countries neighbouring Ukraine, Romania included, protested in Brussels, demanding measures to avoid the bankruptcy of thousands of European farmers. Romanian farmers, for instance, argued that traders and producers in the agrifood sector prefer the grains imported from Ukraine to the ones produced locally, due to the lower prices. In this context, the European Commission approved an additional EUR 100 mln in aid for the farmers in the 5 most affected countries-Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia.Romania is set to receive nearly EUR 30 mln of the total amount. (AMP)


  • May 3, 2023

    May 3, 2023

    BANK The foreign currency reserves of the
    National Bank of Romania were in excess of EUR 53 bln at the end of April, up 0.21%
    compared to the previous month. The gold reserves stay at 103.6 tonnes. High
    forex reserves ensure investor confidence, analysts explain, adding that this
    was mostly due to EU fund receipts.


    UNEMPLOYMENT The unemployment rate in Romania dropped slightly, from
    5.5% in February to 5.4% in March, but unemployment among youth remains high,
    at 22.2%, the National Statistics Institute reports. The number of people
    between the ages of 15 and 74 receiving unemployment benefits in March was over
    453,000, a decrease compared both to the previous month of this year and to the
    corresponding period in 2022. Among men, the rate was 5.8%, whereas the
    proportion of unemployed women was 5%. For adults aged 25 to 74, the
    unemployment rate stood at 4.4%.


    CORONATION Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of
    Romania, and the Prince Consort, will take part on Saturday in the coronation
    of King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
    the Royal House of Romania announced today in a Facebook post. In the 157 years of existence of the Royal House of
    Romania, the connection with the British royal family has been steady, based on
    admiration, respect and affection, both in its official dimension, representing
    the two nations, and in its private, family aspect, reads the post. The Royal
    House adds that this reliable relationship has spanned the 19th, 20th
    and 21st centuries and five generations.


    PRESS The World Press Freedom
    Day celebrated on the 3rd of May occasioned the opening of a special
    exhibition at the National Romanian Literature Museum in Bucharest. The event
    was organized jointly with the Romanian Union of Professional Journalists. The
    exhibition, which opens a series of events devoted to journalists in all fields,
    is intended as a starting point for a future Museum of Romanian Press. The World
    Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, and is
    designed to highlight the importance of and the need for freedom of expression.


    EDUCATION A draft law regulating higher education in Romania was
    approved by the specialist committee in the Chamber of Deputies, with a number
    of amendments. Among other things, grants and training programmes will be
    offered every year to Romanians from abroad who wish to study in Romania. Welfare
    grants may be received concurrently with other types of grants, should student
    meet relevant criteria. As for salaries, higher education institutions may
    increase salaries within their approved budgets. Fines have also been
    introduced, ranging from EUR 20,000 to 40,000, for those who sell BA, MA or
    doctoral theses online, in violation of intellectual property rights. The new
    laws on the undergraduate and higher education sectors will most likely be
    subject to voting in the Chamber of Deputies next week. The Senate is then to take
    its final vote.


    GRAINS The European Commission
    announced exceptional and temporary preventive measures on imports of
    a limited number of products from Ukraine. They concern only 4 products-wheat, maize,
    rapeseed and sunflower seed-and are designed to alleviate logistical
    bottlenecks concerning these products in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and
    Slovakia. Meanwhile, Romania will receive an additional EUR 30 bln
    to support farmers affected by the cheap grains imports from Ukraine. (AMP)

  • April 19, 2023

    April 19, 2023

    VISIT The president of Romania
    Klaus Iohannis is carrying on his visit to Brazil today. He travels to Rio
    de Janeiro, where he has meetings scheduled with the deputy governor and the deputy
    mayor of the city, and will pay tribute to the World War II heroes. On Monday, Mr.
    Iohannis met with his counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The two officials
    signed a joint statement on the development of bilateral relations. Klaus
    Iohannis assured his counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of Romania’s
    support for advancing the EU – Brazil agenda through projects designed to
    benefit citizens. This is the first stage of the Romanian president’s
    south-American tour, which also includes Chile and Argentina. The goal is to rekindle
    the top-level dialogue with these countries and to present Romania’s position,
    as an EU and NATO member, with respect to the war launched by Russia in
    neighbouring Ukraine.


    AGRICULTURE A
    simple motion tabled by the opposition against the agriculture minister Petre
    Daea has been dismissed in the Chamber of Deputies today. The motion was
    discussed in parliament on Tuesday. The initiators argued that
    Daea
    was directly responsible for the steep rise in the prices of basic foodstuffs, for
    the poor handling of the swine fever and avian influenza crises, and also for
    the failure to secure EU funding for the Romanian farmers affected by the grain
    imports from Ukraine. The agriculture minister said none of the allegations
    were based on actual figures. On the other hand, he is set to discuss with his
    Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solskyi today, about the situation created by the duty-free
    Ukrainian grain imports to the EU. Last week, Poland and Hungary, followed by
    Slovakia, announced a temporary ban on these imports. Poland also suspended
    grain transit on its territory, but following talks between the two parties an
    agreement was reached on Tuesday to resume transit, provided that the grains
    are not sold in that country. Hungary also announced that Ukrainian grain
    shipments would be sealed and monitored while on Hungarian territory. In
    Bucharest, the Social Democratic Party intends to persuade the ruling coalition
    to temporarily suspend these imports, in order to protect Romanian farmers, in
    the absence of sufficient compensation from the European Commission. Brussels
    on the other hand finds the measure unacceptable and has called for coordinated
    decisions, while promising a new aid package for the affected farmers.


    ART Since the
    start of the Timisoara – 2023 European Capital of Culture programme this
    February, over 12,000 Romanian and foreign art lovers have visited the National
    Art Museum in Timişoara, western Romania, to see the first retrospective
    exhibition devoted to Victor Brauner. Probably no other exhibition in the
    history of the museum has attracted so many visitors as ‘Victor Brauner: Inventions
    and magic did in only two months, the museum director Filip Petcu said on
    Monday. Some 100 works, including paintings, drawings, sketches, etchings and
    documents by the Romanian surrealist artist are on display in Timişoara. Of
    these, 40 are on loan from the Pompidou Centre in Paris, while others have been
    made available by Saint-Etienne Metropole, Musee Cantini Marseilles and other
    museums or private collections in Romania and abroad.


    FINANCE One of
    the indicators taken into account by Fitch Agency when improving Bucharest’s
    long-term issuer default rating was the adjustment of expenditure to revenues, the
    mayor Nicuşor Dan announced on Wednesday. In a Facebook post, he says that the
    municipality’s efforts to achieve financial stability are beginning to yield
    fruit, given that Fitch has improved Bucharest’s standalone credit profile from
    ‘BBB+’ to ‘A’, a class higher than the national rating, which means a good
    capacity to meet financial obligations. On April 15, Fitch Ratings reconfirmed
    Bucharest’s ‘BBB-‘ ratings for long-term foreign and local currency debt and
    upgraded the outlook from negative to stable. Last month Fitch had also
    reconfirmed Romania’s BBB-/F3 rating for long and short-term foreign currency
    debt and upgraded the outlook from negative to stable. With a population of approx.
    2.16 million, Bucharest accounts for over 30% of
    Romania’s economy, and its local wealth level is more than four times the
    national average.



    USA
    Fox News, the TV channel of choice of US Conservatives, has agreed to pay USD
    787.5 million to the voting technology company Dominion, after a last-minute
    settlement to avoid a lawsuit concerning its coverage of the 2020 presidential
    elections, France Presse reports. Dominion had originally claimed USD 1.6 bln.
    The settlement saves the pearl of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire from what the New
    York Times described as the defamation trial of the century. The lawsuit was generally
    viewed in the US as a test for the limits of the freedom of expression
    guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US Constitution, and of the fight
    against misinformation. (AMP)

  • November 4, 2022

    November 4, 2022

    EVENT GoTech World, the largest IT and digital event
    in Central and Eastern Europe ends in Bucharest today. The event has brought
    together some of the world’s most important players in this field, more than 80
    top companies the world over have exclusively presented their products and
    services. Besides various exhibitions, GoTech also includes a series of
    sessions, which involves the participation of 130 speakers, influencers,
    experts and entrepreneurs from the IT world. The Deputy Secretary General of
    NATO, Romanian Mircea Geoana, is expected to deliver a speech today, which is
    the second day of this prestigious event. Another interesting moment will be
    the attendance of ballerina Merritt Moore, who is also a quantum physicist. She
    has become famous for having combined science and dance through the use of
    robots.








    DATA According to data released by the National
    Registry Office, the number of companies, which suspended their activity in
    Romania in the first nine months of this year, has almost reached 11 thousand, being
    20% higher than in the same period of 2021. Most of the companies that closed
    down were located in Bucharest and several other major cities, and were
    operating in the wholesale and retail businesses, vehicle repair and
    maintenance and other professional scientific and technical activities.








    GAME The national women’s handball side of
    Romania on Saturday will be up against the Netherlands in their first match in
    the European Championship’s group C. The tournament takes place over November 4th
    and 20th in Slovenia, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Group C also
    includes France and North Macedonia. Romania has so far participated in every edition
    of the aforementioned competition save for 2006 and the best result it obtained
    was a bronze medal in 2010. In 2020 our handballers ranked 12th.








    LAW
    Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Friday promulgated a law banning
    offenders from running for leading political positions such as senators, MPs,
    mayors, presidents of county councils and others. Under the aforementioned law,
    the ban does not apply in cases involving rehabilitation, amnesty or
    decriminalization.










    TRADE The volume of trade exchanges between Romania and Germany in the
    first nine months of the year has exceeded 28 billion dollars, 18% higher than
    in the same period last year, says the Federal Statistics Office quoted by the
    Romanian-German Chamber of Trade. According to the same sources, the volume of
    German exports to Romania stood at roughly 15 billion Euros, while imports
    exceeded 13 billion, placing Romania on the 19th position in a
    ranking concerning exports and on the 21st position in terms of imports.
    Federal authorities have voiced hope that Romania will join the Schengen zone
    as soon as possible in what is seen as a strong political signal acknowledging
    the country’s positive achievements in terms of European integration.








    SPORT Romania’s football champions CFR Cluj have
    qualified for the play-offs of the round of 16 of Europa Conference League
    after their one-nil home win against FC Ballkani of Kosovo. CFR ranks second in
    the group after Turkish side Sivasspor. Teams ranking second in the
    competition’s groups are playing tie games against sides on the third position
    in Europa League. Romania’s vice-champions FCSB have lost their last game in the
    group to English side West Ham United and are presently at the bottom of the
    table. Play-off games for the round of 16 are to be played between February 16
    and 23.






    (bill)

  • Partial embargo on Russian oil 

    Partial embargo on Russian oil 

    Since the start of the Russian military invasion in Ukraine on
    February 24, Western countries have responded by a number of economic and
    diplomatic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions are designed to effectively
    counter Russia’s continued aggression on the neighbouring country.


    Convening
    in a summit in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday, the EU leaders agreed, after
    several hours of talks, to gradually ban Russian oil imports. The compromise
    negotiated with difficulty in Brussels bans only seaborne oil purchases for the
    time being, exempting pipeline deliveries following the opposition of Hungary.


    The measure
    is part of the 6th package of sanctions enacted by the EU since the
    start of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.


    The president
    of the European Council, Charles Michel, said the measure, which will be
    enforced by the end of the year, immediately covers more than two-thirds of the
    Russian oil imports, cutting a huge source of financing for [Russia’s] war
    machine and delivering maximum pressure on Russia to end the war.


    Imports via the Druzhba pipeline,
    which also supplies Hungary, will be exempt from the ban in a first stage, after
    Budapest used its veto rights to hinder the adoption of the 6th
    package of EU sanctions for several weeks. Hungary’s domestic consumption is
    65% reliant on the Druzhba pipeline.


    Negotiations
    are scheduled as soon as possible to move towards banning the remaining of the
    Russian oil imports.


    Attending
    the summit in Brussels, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said Bucharest
    supported the new sanctions against Moscow.


    Meanwhile,
    the EU leaders also agreed to remove 3 Russian banks, including Sberbank, from the Swift
    global payments system and to ban 3 other state-owned Russian broadcasters. So
    far, 7 Russian banks have been denied access to the Swift platform which enables
    major banking operations such as interbank transfers.


    Also, a
    macro-financial aid package worth EUR 9 billion has been approved. The funds
    will allow Kyiv to cover its immediate cash demand and to keep its economy
    running. According to the Ukrainian authorities, the country needs EUR 5
    billion per month. The EU funding will take the form of long-term loans with subsidised
    interests. (AMP)

  • October 6, 2020

    October 6, 2020

    COVID-19 On Tuesday in Romania record-high figures were reported both in terms of the number of deaths (73) and patients taken in intensive care in the last 24 hours (608). 2, 121 new infection cases were also reported, taking the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic to nearly 140,000. Some 110,000 of them have recovered. Romanian authorities announce new restrictions in localities with more that 1.5 cases per thousand capita in the past 14 days. The National Committee for Emergency Situations last night requested county committees to look at the local situation and introduce additional containment measures, such as banning private events or closing restaurants. Restrictions will also be introduced for travelers coming from countries with more coronavirus cases than Romania.



    INDUSTRY The Romanian airspace company Romaero received from the American firm Raytheon a first order for components for Patriot anti-missile systems, more specifically for parts that will be included in the construction of the Patriot radar. After this first order has been completed, the Romanian company will have a chance to receive subsequent orders from all the 17 countries that own Patriot systems. Romaero is the second Romanian company to receive orders for parts and pieces, after Aerostar Bacău in 2019.



    DEFENCE Romanias Supreme Defence Council is holding an online meeting today, chaired by president Klaus Iohannis, to look at defence and national security issues. The agenda includes topics like such as a strategic defence analysis, the White Paper on Defence, the implementation plan for the national defence strategy 2020 – 2024. The last meeting of the Council was held in late May. PM Ludovic Orban, deputy chairman of the Council, requested a COVID-19 test on Monday, after he was recently on a TV set with a person who tested positive for the virus. The Government subsequently announced that the test was negative, but that the PM will stay in quarantine until Thursday, working without physical contact with any other individuals. Ludovic Orban will be tested again on Thursday.



    EUROSTAT Romania has imported face masks worth 272 million euros in the first half of 2020, according to data made public by Eurostat today. In the first 6 months of the year compared to 2019, the EUs face masks imports rose 1,800%, from 800 million euro to 14 billion euro. Data per capita point to substantial differences between member states. Luxembourg, which distributes face masks under a governmental policy, has imported by far the largest number of such products per capital in the EU (121 euro per capita). Next come Belgium, Germany and France, the only countries with imports above 50 euro per capita. At the opposite pole, imports were under 10 euro per capita in Cyprus, Poland, Sweden, Croatia, Greece and Bulgaria. Romania is ranked in the lower half of the list, with face masks imports amounting to 14 euro per inhabitant.



    NOBEL Scientists Roger Penrose (UK),
    Reinhard Genzel (Germany) and Andrea Ghez (USA) were awarded on Tuesday the Nobel
    Prize for physics for their discoveries related to black holes. On Monday, researchers Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2020, for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus. The recipients of the Nobel Prize for chemistry, literature and peace will also be announced this week. The winner of the Nobel Prize for Economy will be made public on October 12. With the latter’s exception, the other Nobel Prizes were created by the Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), the inventor of the dynamite. In 2020, each Nobel Prize will be accompanied by a $1.1 million check, which is more than in previous years. The Nobel Awards organisers have announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prize recipients will most likely receive their awards in their home countries, without having to attend an award ceremony in Stockholm.



    PANDEMIC The total number of COVID-19 cases worldwide is over 35.7 million, with over 1 million deaths, according to worldometers updates. The US president Donald Trump returned to the White House, after receiving treatment for the virus. He urged people, in a video message, not to be scared or overwhelmed by this disease. The US remains the country with the largest number of cases and deaths in the world. Record-high figures are also reported in a growing number of European countries, and additional protection measures are introduced across the continent. The Czech Republic and Slovakia reintroduced a state of emergency on Monday. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • August 18, 2018 UPDATE

    August 18, 2018 UPDATE

    KOFI ANNAN – The former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, was a visionary, and his efforts to reform the Organisation will not be forgotton, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday. Kofi Annan died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland in the early hours of Saturday, after a short illness. He was awarded the Nobel peace prize for his humanitarian work jointly with the UN as an organisation in 2001. He was the seventh secretary general and served for two terms between 1997 and 2006. Annan’s foundation issued a statement on his Twitter account on Saturday that described him as a “global statesman and deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world”. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, on 8 April 1938, Annan joined the UN system in 1962 as an administrative officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva. He later served with the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, the UN Emergency Force in Ismailia, the UN high commissioner for refugees in Geneva and in several senior posts at its headquarters in New York.




    ACCIDENT — Rescue teams continue to search for possible survivors after the dramatic collapse of a motorway bridge in Genoa, Italy. Over 40 people were killed when dozens of vehicles fell 45m. The cause of the disaster, which occurred during torrential rain, was not immediately clear but questions had been raised about the safety of the structure. Saturday was declared a national day of mourning in Italy and included a state funeral at the industrial port city’s fair grounds for those who plunged to their deaths as the Morandi Bridge gave way Tuesday. But many of those who lost loved ones declined to participate in the state funeral. Some cited the need to bid farewell in private while others blamed the loss of lives on those responsible for the bridge’s safety.




    INFLATION – Romania maintained in July, for the sixth consecutive month, its position as the country with the highest annual inflation rate among the European Union member states, of 4.3 percent measured by Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP), Eurostat has reported. The figure is, however, smaller than the one June, when it stood at 4.7%. In its turn, the National Bank of Romania revised downwards, to 3.5%, the inflation forecast for this year.




    CYBER ATTACK – The Romanian Intelligenge Service SRI has announced it has strong information and data, including technical ones, that Romanian financial institutions have been under powerful cyber attacks in the period June-August this year. Recently, other partner institution of the SRI have identified, in their own countries, the imminence of such attacks, also dicrected against a number of financial systems across the world. The document also says that hackers use a variety of instruments, some from the Cobalt Strike arsenal, which are associated with a cyber crime group from the East.




    IMPORTS – Romania’s imports stood at 40.2 billion euros in the first six months of the year. Official statistics show that 3.3 billion euros went on food imports, double the amount in the first six months of 2008, according to Mediafax news agency. According to recent data provided by the National Institute of Statistics, Romania’s exports of farm and food products in the first half of the year accounted for only 2.2 billion euros, bringing the deficit at more than 1 billion euros.




    PROTESTS — In Romania, military prosecutors announced they would continue to receive over the weekend complaints from people injured in the gendarme intervention in the so-called Diaspora protests one week ago. So far, over 230 criminal complaints have been registered, and more than 100 people interviewed. Military prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation in rem for abusive behavior, abuse of office and negligence while on duty related to the gendarme intervention in the August 10th protests.






  • August 17, 2018 UPDATE

    August 17, 2018 UPDATE

    RESERVES – Romania imported, in the first half of this year, 4.18 million tons of crude oil, by 860 thousand more than in the same period of last year, according to data provided by the National Institute of Statistics. According to the Energy Strategy project, posted on the Energy Ministry’s website, the domestic production of crude oil will decrease to almost 2 million tons in 2030. Romania’s crude oil reserves will be depleted in about 12 to 15 years, the report also says.




    IMPORTS – Romania’s imports stood at 40.2 billion euros in the first six months of the year. Official statistics show that 3.3 billion euros went on food imports, double the amount in the first six months of 2008, according to Mediafax news agency. According to recent data provided by the National Institute of Statistics, Romania’s exports of farm and food products in the first half of the year accounted for only 2.2 billion euros, bringing the deficit at more than 1 billion euros.




    MIGRANTS – Germany has reached an agreement with Greece to send back migrants to the Mediterranean country if they have already applied for asylum there. A week before, Germany and Spain made a similar deal on returning migrants. Germany was also in “very advanced” negotiations on a similar deal with the Italian government and she expected a deal to be struck. More than 1.6 million migrants have arrived in Germany since mid-2014.




    INFLATION – Romania maintained in July, for the sixth consecutive month, its position as the country with the highest annual inflation rate among the European Union member states, of 4.3 percent measured by Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICP), Eurostat has reported. The figure is, however, smaller than the one June, when it stood at 4.7%. In its turn, the National Bank of Romania revised downwards, to 3.5%, the inflation forecast for this year.




    PROTESTS — In Romania, military prosecutors announced they would continue to receive over the weekend complaints from people injured in the gendarme intervention in the so-called Diaspora protests one week ago. So far, over 230 criminal complaints have been registered, and more than 100 people interviewed. Military prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation in rem for abusive behavior, abuse of office and negligence while on duty related to the gendarme intervention in the August 10th protests.




    MILITARY — Canada will send to Romania 135 military personnel and five F-18 Hornet fighters to take part in NATO air patrols, as announced by the Canadian Air Force, quoted by local sources. The Canadian mission to Romania will take place between September and December 2018, as part of Operation Reassurance, Canadas contribution to NATO activities in Central and Eastern Europe. The Canadian airmen and their fighters will be based at Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in southeast Romania. Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said that the assistance offered by his country to air patrols in Romania is an important contribution and proof of support to the North Atlantic Alliance.




    AWARDS — Ioana Uricaru, director of the film Lemonade, received the Heart of Sarajevo award in the Best Director category on Thursday night at the Sarajevo International Film Festival. The film Love 1. Dog, by Florin Serban, got the two Partners Awards granted by the Bosnian Filmmakers Association: the European Art Cinema Network Award, and the Cineeuropa award, for artistic quality, according to the event website. The award for best movie was granted to the movie Aga by Milko Lazarov. Lemonade, produced by Cristian Mungiu, is Ioana Uricarus feature length debut. Love 1. Dog is Florin Serbans third movie, after When I Want to Whistle, I Whistle, and BOX, and it opens his Love Trilogy, three movies about three ways of loving. Launched in 1995, the Sarajevo Festival became a major cultural event in the Balkan region.




    FOOTBALL– Romanian football champions CFR Cluj, and vice-champions FCSB, have qualified in the Europa League play-offs, playing at home. The footballers from Cluj crushed Armenian side Alashkert 5-0, after winning the first leg 2-0. FCSB qualified to the chagrin of Croatian side Hajduk Split, winning 2-1 in Bucharest by a last second goal, after holding the Croatians to a blank draw in the first leg. However, CSU Craiova, Romanias Cup holders, missed the qualification after tying 1-all at home against the Germans from RB Leipzig. In the first leg, Craiova had lost 3-1. In their next games, CFR Cluj plays against Dudelange of Luxembourg, while FCSB plays against Rapid Viena.